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A Handful of Heroes, Rorke’s Drift, Facts, Myths and Legends

The Battle of Rorke’s Drift is a Victorian story from the race for Empire. This new book provides a thoroughly researched study that questions the many myths and distortions that have grown up.Strongly Recommended.

NAME: A Handful of Heroes, Rorke's Drift, Facts, Myths and LegendsFILE: R2390AUTHOR: Katie StosselPUBLISHER: Pen & SwordBINDING: hard back PAGES: 201PRICE: £19.99GENRE: Non FictionSUBJECT: Zulu Wars, Rorke's Drift Mission, Zulu Impi, defensive
position, heavy odds, Isandalwana, South Africa, race to Empire,
colonial expansionISBN: 1-47382-822-8IMAGE: B2390.jpgBUYNOW: http://tinyurl.com/zhekozcLINKS: Current Discount Offers http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/saleDESCRIPTION: The Battle of Rorke's Drift is a Victorian story from
the race for Empire. This new book provides a thoroughly researched
study that questions the many myths and distortions that have grown up.Strongly Recommended.The story of Rorke's Drift is one of a number of Victorian 'successes'
that were used as propaganda to hide a story of greater failure.
Another was the ride of Surgeon Major William Bryden to give news of
the Massacre at the Khyber Pass. It was by any standards an heroic
ride that demonstrated great personal bravery in the face of the enemy
that would have justified the award of the Victoria Cross, had that award
already been available. It did, as a propaganda story, divert attention
away from the disastrous campaign by the Army of the Indus as it marched
into Afghanistan on a poorly planned mission and with diplomats who were
hopelessly unsuitable.Rorke's Drift was also an event where a truly heroic defence, against
what should have been overwhelming odds, deserved the recognition the
soldiers received in the award of numerous Victoria Crosses. Again, the
propaganda use of the action was employed to divert attention from the
calamitous use of an army to invade Zulu territory. As with the Army of
the Indus, the expedition army advanced without adequate or reliable
intelligence, was poorly commanded, and was consequently destroyed.The Zulu nation was a military society where its Impi were well trained
and used capture equipment that increased its power. An Impi was able to
advance at great speed, running for hours, and still able to fight
effectively at the end of the run. The Zulus were fighting on their
territory and knew the ground very well. That enabled them to catch the
expeditionary army unprepared and unable to mount a capable defence. In
the action, the Zulus over ran the British army and then hunted down those
fleeing survivors, almost to a man.Moving on to the crossing at Rorke's Drift Mission, the Zulus could have
expected to swiftly over run the small garrison. As history records, that
was not to be the case. The small British force fought with tenacity
against a vastly more numerous Zulu force and the Zulus were given no
choice but to withdraw.The author has looked beyond the propaganda text that was produced for
public consumption at home, without in any way detracting from the immense
courage of the British soldiers defending the Mission. It is still a
stirring story and perhaps the more so because even with the 'spin' removed
the courage remains. In fact, it emerges stronger.Those readers who only know the story from the film “Zulu”, there will be
surprises but then movies are meant to entertain rather than to teach
researched history.This book provides a credible study that looks in detail at the facts behind
the myths and does justice both to the soldiers who fought at Rorke's Drift
and to the Zulu Impi.